Non-lethal ammunition projectile
The present invention relates to a projectile (1) for non-lethal ammunition of a body that is composed of a first portion (2) and a second portion (4). Said first portion (2) has a larger mass that the second portion (4), so as to increase the stability of the projectile (1). In addition, the projectile (1) has a strangulation (5) that connects the first portion (2) to the second portion, wherein the first portion (2) is formed by two rings (3), and the two rings (3) are interconnected by an annular groove (6), and wherein the end opposite the strangulation (50 of the second portion (4) has an annular base (7).
The present invention relates to a projectile for non-lethal ammunition, used in a fire arm.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ARTNon-lethal arms are designed and employed to incapacitate people and material temporarily, without causing deaths, permanent injuries or even undesirable material damages to buildings and to the environment. Thus, they enable one to employ gradual force, reducing the situations in which the use of lethal arms is determinant.
Non-lethal arms further have a broad application in the public-security area, especially in controlling disturbances of all kinds, including in the case of rebellions in the prison system.
As non-lethal arms, one can exemplify truncheon, chemical-product sprayers, electric-shock devices, miscellaneous-effects grenades and non-lethal ammunition launchers, among which rubber bullets.
Rubber bullets are usually inserted into cartridges, the basic function of which is similar to that of an ordinary cartridge. Its action, however, when they are shot against a person, aims at incapacitating him temporarily without causing death or permanent damage.
The above-mentioned type of ammunition—non-lethal—may be a cartridge comprising a plurality of rubber spheres, as is the case of the Model 3020 Stinger-HV cartridge from Armor Holdings, which has 18 spheres, shown in
Another type of non-lethal ammunition employs a smaller amount of projectiles, such as AM403/A or AM-403C from Condor Tecnologias Näo-Letais, which have 3 projectiles (see
In addition, in order for the non-lethal projectiles not to perforate or cause lethality, the shooting should be effected at a minimum safety distance, so that the projectile will slow down sufficiently before hitting the target. The longer the distance, the greater the need to use ammunitions that bring about precision shooting.
Since the ammunitions mentioned so far, provided with a plurality of projectiles, are characterized by their low accuracy, when one desires greater precision, one uses ammunitions with controlled impact, containing a single projectile in the cartridge.
At present, there are three main types of controlled-impact non-lethal ammunitions, which are known by those skilled in the art, namely: single projectile, “bean-bag” and winged projectile. The single projectile type is similar to those mentioned before, but instead of having a plurality of projectiles, it has only one cylindrical projectile. This type of projectile is shown in
Another type of single projectile, known as “bean-bag”, consists of a bag sewn at the edges and filled up with some material allowing the bag to be folded within a cartridge, as can be seen in
In view of the fact that the flight of the bean-bag is imprecise, a flight-stability device J has been developed, which can be seen in
The ammunition of the type of a projectile having rubber wings has the shape shown in
An objective of the present invention is to provide a projectile for non-lethal ammunition having a safe accuracy. The projectile is a body having a first portion and a second portion, which have different masses to increase the precision of the weapon that uses the present projectile. Between these portions, there is a strangulation that unites them, the first portion being composed of a plurality of rings connected by annular grooves, as well as an annular base at an end opposite the first portion, which increases the flight stability of the projectile.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe present invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to an embodiment represented on the drawings. The figures show.
As can be seen in
The shooter shown in
Thus, the main objective of the present invention is to increase the accuracy of non-lethal projects, since it guarantees sufficient precision for the shooter to hit the desired target at adequate shooting distances against target people. The desired target may be not only a person, but also an object; for instance, if the shooter desires to hit the arm held by an aggressor without impairing the safety of third people around. Since it is highly desirable to increase the precision of the non-lethal ammunitions, the projectile of the present invention meets the present demand for precision in triggering arms with the objective of non-lethality.
Besides absorbing kinetic energy, the first portion 2 is also used for aiding in the stabilization of the projectile during its flight, since the first portion 2 has the biggest part of the mass of the projectile 1. Bearing in mind this mass distribution, the mass center is located closer to one of the ends of the projectile 1, which in the present embodiment of the invention, is on the first portion 2. Such a distribution of mass makes the mass center of the projectile 1 as front as possible (with respect to the path direction) to the aerodynamic center of the projectile 1, thus increasing the stabilizing moment. The fact of increasing the stabilizing moment of the projectile 1, in conjunction with other characteristics of the projectile 1, which will be explained later, makes the flight stable, so that the required accuracy is achieved.
In order to prove the efficacy of the absorption of kinetic energy of the projectile with a significant mass amount in the first portion 2, ballistic tests were carried out, which consisted in triggering several times a firearm calibrated and loaded with ammunition containing the projectile 1. These testsl are made at a distance of 20 (twenty) meters from the target. The target is a test body made from plastiline and, after the shooting, the deformation undergone by the plasiline body is measured, and one admits a maximum deformation of 44 (forty-foor) mm, equivalent to the maximum deformation admitted for the case of a shot against the bulletproof vest put over the plastiline, according to the NIJ Standard rule 0101.03. At these ballistic testes, it was achieved an average deformation of only 33 (thirty-three) mm. In this way it is proved that the present projectile, besides obtaining greater accuracy, is also safer and reinforces the use of non-lethal ammunition to guarantee the preservation of life.
Further in
The above-described shape of the second portion 4 is essential for the stabilization of the project 1 during its flight and in the arm barrel, where the pressures are high. As disclosed above, the annular base 7 has a larger diameter than any other part of the projectile 1. In this way, when the ammunition is fired, the annular base comes in friction contact with the arm barrel, thus effecting the initial deceleration of the projectile, and further, with this friction contact, a stabilization of the projectile within the barrel takes place, which renders the projectile 1 stable while it is coming out and starting a stable flight until the target is hit.
Moreover, it has been verified that the most suitable material for the manufacture of the projectile 1 is rubber. In this case, the projectile is made by rubber injection. However, it should be pointed out that other material may be employed for making it. And further, since this manufacture is effected by injection, all of the components of the projectile 1 described above constitute a single piece.
In spite of the increase obtained in accuracy of the projectile 1 described above, one has also made an improvement in the second portion 4, namely the introduction of a core 10 within the region 9. This core 10 can be seen in
Normally the material used for the bore 10 is plastic, but one should understand that the bore 10 is made of a material that simply increases the mechanical strength of the second portion 4, and there is the possibility of applying other treatments and devices for obtaining the desired strength.
The achievement of the above-mentioned strength is due to the fact that, during the expansion of the gases from the gunpowder combustion of the ammunition, the back portion 4 undergoes high pressures, so as to impair the desired shape of this part. If the shape changes significantly within the barrel or even during the flight of the projectile, the stability is strongly impaired, for which reason the above-mentioned reinforcement has been introduced.
In
A preferred embodiment having been described, one should understand that the scope of the present invention embraces other possible variations, being limited only by the contents of the accompanying claims, which include the possible equivalents.
Claims
1. A projectile (1) for non-lethal ammunition comprising:
- a body that is composed of a first portion (2) and a second portion (4), wherein the first portion (2) has a bigger mass than the second portion (4);
- a strangulation (5) connecting the first portion (2) to the second portion (4);
- wherein the first portion (2) is formed by a plurality of rings (3), wherein the rings (3) are separated by an annular groove (6), and wherein the end oppose the strangulation (5) of the second portion (4) has an annular base (7).
2. A projectile (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first portion (2) is formed by three rings (3).
3. A projectile (1) according to claim 1, wherein the lower portion (4) has a bore (10) made of a material different of that of the projectile (1).
4. A projectile (1) according to claim 3, wherein the bore (10) is made of plastic.
5. A projectile (1) according to claim 1, wherein the projectile (1) is made of rubber.
6. A projectile (1) according to claim 1, wherein the annular base (7) has a diameter larger than the diameter of the body that forms the projectile (1).
7. A projectile (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the rings (3) have the same diameter.
8. A projectile (1) according to claim 1, wherein the second portion (4) is partly hollow.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 25, 2006
Publication Date: Sep 14, 2006
Inventor: Carlos de Aguiar (Rio de Janeiro)
Application Number: 11/338,812
International Classification: F42B 14/06 (20060101);